THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Bangkok's a-maze-ing new art gallery

Bangkok's a-maze-ing new art gallery

Fun and adventuresome, CityCity aims to get more people interested in contemporary art

Having collected works by Thai contemporary artists for years, Akapol Sudasna and his girlfriend Supamas Phahulo, who’s also an art curator, thought it was about time to share their enthusiasm with the public at large. With an eye to giving the contemporary-art market here a boost as well, they’ve just opened the Bt15-million Bangkok CityCity Gallery.
And, as their debut show, they have an exhibition of manga by one of their favourite artists in the genre, Wisut Pornnimitr. The major solo show titled “Melo House” was unveiled with a bang two weeks ago.
“We want to introduce contemporary art that people can more easily understand,” says Akapol, “so we’re starting off with Wisut’s show.”
Wisit is popular for his straightforward storytelling technique, the themes coming from everyday life. Best known for his comics like “Hesheit” (He-she-it), “everybodyeverything” and “Mamuang Chan” (“Mango Girl”), his work is also deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy.
Between the 2D illustrations and an all-encompassing 3D installation, Wisit’s fans are having fun exploring his remarkable range. The room-filling installation piece, first unveiled in Kobe, Japan, at the gallery of art collective Graf in 2005 and then shown at the Yokohama Triennial the same year, has been made even more interactive for its appearance at CityCity with the help of Wisit’s friend Jiro Endo, a lighting designer.
The 200-square-metre gallery allows ample room for the comparatively small Melo House – melo is Japanese for “maze”. Inside you find Wisit’s creations: Mamuang and her beloved four-legged pooch Manao (“Lemon”) encountering all kinds of surprises.
“The manga is set in Mamuang’s dark house one night after the electricity goes off,” says Wisut, 39. “Then the journey of Mamuang and her friend begins, but, instead of giving the story a specific ending, I let the viewers choose their own.”
Roaming around in the dimly lit maze, you’re able to follow her adventure through 135 cute yet fairly scary watercolours hung on the black walls. There’s only one entrance – but six exits. You’re in Mamuang’s shoes, and it’s up to you what path to take to bring the story to a close. 
Unlike Wisit’s comics, the paintings illustrating the little girl’s journey have hardly any text, the better to encourage viewers to use their own imagination. The painting at “Ending No 5”, for example, shows Mamuang and Manao getting an electric shock, but all the caption has to say is “Unobservant”.
All that adventuring and imagining can work up an appetite, so fortunately there are ice-cream versions of Mamuang and Manao for sale in the gallery cafe, to eat on the spot or take home. Among limited-edition prints of the main characters displayed on cafe’s mercifully white walls, people choose their ice cream from a packed refrigerator, each piece depicting Mango Girl or her dog and costing Bt80. This is the sort of snack that was made for taking selfies with.
Meanwhile the prints are also selling well at Bt50,000 a pop, autographed. Only 16 were made. The unlimited edition of unsigned A4-size prints are also available for Bt1,100.
“This is part of our ambition to create a friendly atmosphere while at the same time attracting younger people who might become interested in collecting art,” says Akapol, who has a master’s in fine art from the Art Centre College of Design in Pasadena, California.
He and Supamas aim to introduce patrons to artists who are established and yet still only between 25 and 40 years old. “There are a lot of Thai artists who are very interesting, but many of them are underrepresented, so we want to give them a chance here.”
The ultra-modern, museum-standard facility has the main 200-square-metre gallery with a ceiling six metres up, tall enough to accommodate huge installations as well as fashion shows, mini-concerts, live theatre and film screenings. The cafe with a big window overlooking Sathorn Soi 1 occupies another 50 square metres and can double as a separate exhibition space or host lectures and workshops. 
At the rear is a 60-square-metre garden ready for parties, live music and theatre. Finally there’s a 40-square-metre storeroom with doors broad enough to squeeze through sizeable sculptures and other artwork.
“We’ve positioned the gallery as a commercial venture, but we also want to educate the public and promote Thai artists to the world,” says Supamas, a former curator at the Thailand Creative and Design Centre. “We plan to have an educational programme for every exhibition we host.”
In less than a month Bangkok CityCity Gallery has become a hot spot to see art. Its Facebook page swiftly attracted 2,893 followers thanks to friendly marketing online and around town. But turning a profit in contemporary art is tricky, they know. Asked how soon they expect to break even, Supamas is philosophical – but optimistic.
“We opened the gallery out of love, really,” she says. “We realised it wouldn’t be easy. But we’re planning to be here for a decade, and hopefully we can make it a success within three years.”
 
MANGA AND MUNCHIES
 n Bangkok CityCity Gallery is at 13/3 South Sathorn Road, Soi 1, in front of 123 Parking, about a five-minute walk from the Lumpini MRT station. It’s open from 2 to 8pm Wednesday to Sunday.
n The exhibition “Melo House” continues through October 11. Wisut and his friends will perform music on closing night. Take note that the show might not be suitable for people prone to claustrophobia, and that children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.
 
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